Byron Scott on Kobe passing Jordan: 'This is something that was on his list a long time ago'

With Kobe Bryant just eight points shy of Michael Jordan's career scoring total, it seems like a foregone conclusion that Kobe will sit third on the NBA's all-time scoring list by end of the Los Angeles Lakers' Sunday night game against the Minnesota Timberwolves (probably before the halftime buzzer, really).   

According to Lakers coach Byron Scott, while Kobe might try and play it off, the feat is something he's thought about and has wanted to accomplish for quite a while now. 

"Knowing Kobe the way I do, this is something that was on his list a long time ago," Scott said Sunday, according to Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News. "This is one of them as well as trying to pass him in championships rings and things of that nature as well. He’ll take it in stride, believe me. He’ll do it and say it’s no big deal."

Kobe had a chance to surpass Jordan on Friday, needing 31 points against the San Antonio Spurs to do it. Given how much he's been shooting (and scoring) this season, and the fact that the game went to overtime, 31 didn't seem like much. Kobe shot poorly - just 7-of-22 - and came up nine points short, but he dished nine assists, played 40 minutes, and led the Lakers to a huge 112-110 upset win. 

"When we left for this trip, we knew it would happen," Scott said of Bryant’s impending milestone. "It was just a matter of when. Our main focus is to keep winning games. That’s the main focus."